1) What is your topic? Give a brief overview. The short-term benefits of using chemical and biological weapons in modern warfare do not justify the long-term effects of their use.
2) Give two reasons why you selected this topic. I selected this topic because: · I am interested in how chemical and biological weapons have changed modern warfare · I believe that chemical and biological weapons have too many negative effects to be considered a viable option in warfare
3) To what specific course(s) does your topic relate? Explain.
This topic can relate to History, and possibly relate to Chemistry and Biology.
4) Determine whether the primary focus of the issue is cultural, resource, economic, environmental or political. Explain your decision. The primary focus of this issue would be environmental, because chemical and biological weapons can have negative effects on the environment, as well as causing birth defects and mutations for people living in and around the affected areas.
5) Use a “K-W-L Organizer” to recall what you already know about your topic, organize any new ideas, ask questions, and record your learning.
K: What I know about the topic.
W: What I want to know about the topic.
L: What I have learned about the topic from preliminary reading/courses studied.
- Chemical and biological weapons have been in use since ancient times, but have recently been in use since WW1.
- Alternatives to biological and chemical weapons that do not have unintentional adverse effects on the environment or civilian populations.
- Agent Orange: herbicide used to destroy forests in Vietnam during the Vietnam war; caused mutations and birth defects in people; toxins can still be found in the environment.
6) Based on your prior knowledge and studies, what are the three important themes or issues pertinent to this topic? Outline and explain. Based on my prior knowledge and studies, three important themes or issues pertinent to this topic are: · The effects chemical and biological weapons could have on civilian populations · The effects chemical and biological weapons could have on the environment · Whether boundaries should be set in terms of what types of weapons are used against other human beings.
7) Create two controversial questions about the topic that your thesis paper may answer. Two controversial questions about the topic that my thesis paper may answer are: · Should we be working to develop new and more dangerous chemical and biological weapons? · Are there other options, in terms of weapons, that can be used to achieve favourable results without the negative long-term effects of chemical and biological weapons?
The short-term benefits of using chemical and biological weapons in modern warfare do not justify the long-term effects of their use.
Step 3: Developing a Hypothesis and Research Questions Topic: Chemical and biological weapons in warfare.
Overview of Topic: Chemical and biological weapons have been in use recently since the First World War. Chemical weapons use the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons, and biological weapons use disease-causing biological agents as weapons. On the whole, these weapons are used to incapacitate or injure the enemy or to render a specific area of land useless to the enemy.
Controversial Questions Regarding Topic: · Should nations and non-national groups abandon development of new and more dangerous chemical and biological weapons? · Are there other options, in terms of weapons, that can be used to achieve favourable results without the negative long-term effects of chemical and biological weapons? · Is it ethical to use chemical and biological weapons despite the negative, long-lasting effects of their use? · Should nations and non-national groups stockpile chemical and biological weapons for potential future use?
Hypothesis: The short-term benefits of using chemical and biological weapons in modern warfare do not justify the long-term effects of their use.
Research Questions: · Factual Questions: o What are the short-term benefits of using chemical and biological weapons in warfare? o Which nations currently have stockpiles of chemical and/or biological weapons? o What is a chemical weapon? o What is a biological weapon?
· Clarification Questions: o When was the first major incident in which chemical and/or biological weapons were used in recent history (20th-21st centuries)? o How have chemical and biological weapons been used in recent history (20th-21st centuries)? o Historically, how has the use of chemical and/or biological weapons influenced warfare? o Which nations have used chemical and/or biological weapons in recent history (20th-21st centuries)?
· Interpretive Questions: o What are the alternatives to chemical and biological weapons that are currently available? o How effective are chemical and biological weapons, in terms of speed and efficiency, for incapacitating the enemy? o What are the potential environmental effects of using chemical and/or biological weapons? Historically, what environmental effects have been seen? o What are the potential effects chemical and/or biological weapons could have on civilian populations? Historically what effects on civilian populations have been seen?
· Inquiry Questions: o What side-effects (short-term and long-term) of the use of various chemical and biological weapons have been seen in recent history (20th-21st centuries)? o What are the most commonly developed, used, and/or stockpiled chemical and biological weapons?
Step 1: Topic Selection
1) What is your topic? Give a brief overview.
The short-term benefits of using chemical and biological weapons in modern warfare do not justify the
long-term effects of their use.
2) Give two reasons why you selected this topic.
I selected this topic because:
· I am interested in how chemical and biological weapons have changed modern warfare
· I believe that chemical and biological weapons have too many negative effects to be considered a
viable option in warfare
3) To what specific course(s) does your topic relate? Explain.
This topic can relate to History, and possibly relate to Chemistry and Biology.
4) Determine whether the primary focus of the issue is cultural, resource, economic, environmental or political. Explain your decision.
The primary focus of this issue would be environmental, because chemical and biological weapons can have
negative effects on the environment, as well as causing birth defects and mutations for people living in and
around the affected areas.
5) Use a “K-W-L Organizer” to recall what you already know about your topic, organize any new ideas, ask questions, and record your learning.
6) Based on your prior knowledge and studies, what are the three important themes or issues pertinent to this topic? Outline and explain.
Based on my prior knowledge and studies, three important themes or issues pertinent to this topic are:
· The effects chemical and biological weapons could have on civilian populations
· The effects chemical and biological weapons could have on the environment
· Whether boundaries should be set in terms of what types of weapons are used against other
human beings.
7) Create two controversial questions about the topic that your thesis paper may answer.
Two controversial questions about the topic that my thesis paper may answer are:
· Should we be working to develop new and more dangerous chemical and biological weapons?
· Are there other options, in terms of weapons, that can be used to achieve favourable results
without the negative long-term effects of chemical and biological weapons?
8) Using the “Evaluating Internet Resources Criteria, ” found at the following website:
http://help.library.ubc.ca/researching/evaluating-internet-sources/
Find three resources on your topic on the web that fit the criteria of a valid Internet resource.
United States Arms Control Association: Chemical and Biological Weapons Status at a Glance http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/cbwprolif
Wikipedia: Biological Warfare http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_warfare
Wikipedia: Chemical Warfare http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_weapon
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation: Chemical and Biological Weapons: Use in Warfare, Impact on Society and Environment
http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2001/11/00_harigel_cbw.htm
Step 2: Write Your Hypothesis
The short-term benefits of using chemical and biological weapons in modern warfare do not justify the long-term effects of their use.
Step 3: Developing a Hypothesis and Research Questions
Topic: Chemical and biological weapons in warfare.
Overview of Topic: Chemical and biological weapons have been in use recently since the First World War. Chemical weapons use the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons, and biological weapons use disease-causing biological agents as weapons. On the whole, these weapons are used to incapacitate or injure the enemy or to render a specific area of land useless to the enemy.
Controversial Questions Regarding Topic:
· Should nations and non-national groups abandon development of new and more dangerous chemical and biological weapons?
· Are there other options, in terms of weapons, that can be used to achieve favourable results without the negative long-term effects of chemical and biological weapons?
· Is it ethical to use chemical and biological weapons despite the negative, long-lasting effects of their use?
· Should nations and non-national groups stockpile chemical and biological weapons for potential future use?
Hypothesis: The short-term benefits of using chemical and biological weapons in modern warfare do not justify the long-term effects of their use.
Research Questions:
· Factual Questions:
o What are the short-term benefits of using chemical and biological weapons in warfare?
o Which nations currently have stockpiles of chemical and/or biological weapons?
o What is a chemical weapon?
o What is a biological weapon?
· Clarification Questions:
o When was the first major incident in which chemical and/or biological weapons were used in recent history (20th-21st centuries)?
o How have chemical and biological weapons been used in recent history (20th-21st centuries)?
o Historically, how has the use of chemical and/or biological weapons influenced warfare?
o Which nations have used chemical and/or biological weapons in recent history (20th-21st centuries)?
· Interpretive Questions:
o What are the alternatives to chemical and biological weapons that are currently available?
o How effective are chemical and biological weapons, in terms of speed and efficiency, for incapacitating the enemy?
o What are the potential environmental effects of using chemical and/or biological weapons? Historically, what environmental effects have been seen?
o What are the potential effects chemical and/or biological weapons could have on civilian populations? Historically what effects on civilian populations have been seen?
· Inquiry Questions:
o What side-effects (short-term and long-term) of the use of various chemical and biological weapons have been seen in recent history (20th-21st centuries)?
o What are the most commonly developed, used, and/or stockpiled chemical and biological weapons?